How to Become an Environmentally Friendly Business

It’s difficult for busy businesses to become environmentally friendly because someone has to have the time to make the changes. However, consumers are becoming ever more aware of how businesses operate, and some businesses that aren’t doing their part to go green are losing custom. Therefore, it’s vital that businesses stay ahead of environmentally friendly ways of working because it’s an excellent selling point. If you want to go green but need some help doing so, take a look at these tips.

There’s no doubt that your business will create some waste. In many businesses with 20+ members of staff, it’s unavoidable. However, you can make some great creations from the waste that you accumulate. For example, a lot of food wastage can be turned into compost. Having a compost bin means you’re in a prime position to grow your own plants. That means, you’re not only reducing your waste but you’re also contributing to a healthier planet by growing new life. If you haven’t got the space for it on your office grounds, consider a rooftop garden or you could invest in a business garden plot. Many businesses also use plots for the benefit of their employee’s mental health – gardening can be highly therapeutic.

Paper Trail

There’s very little need for businesses to be using paper anymore. Client details, emails and documents can all be stored on a desktop computer or online. You can even download software that allows you to collect client signatures on agreements or contracts. If you need to have a record of clients I.D for your files and you’re still printing out copies, consider usingtrusted identity solutions like facial recognition. Using facial recognition will save you from scanning I.Ds and having to keep paper copies and save your clients time and the inconvenience of making copies themselves.

Recycling has become a way of life for family households, but sadly there’s still a lack of it going on in business. Recycling is vital if a business wants to go green and contribute to a healthy planet for the future. Take a walk around your office and find out where it would be best to placerecycling bins. Consider taking personal bins away from employees so they’re forced to use the recycling containers. Send out a memo to all employees informing them that recycling bins must be used and personal bins will no longer be allowed.

Packaging

If you want your business to go green, you need toevaluate your packaging. A high percentage of the world’s waste is due to packaging that can’t be recycled. Many companies use cardboard, paper or plastic for packaging, but there are many kinds that can’t be recycled. For example, Coca-Cola is now advertising their recent move to recyclable plastic and asking consumers to recycle purchased bottles so they can be reused. If your packaging can’t be recycled, it’s time for a major change.

It was once said that businesses should provide morebottled water for employees because it’s so important for people to stay hydrated throughout the day. However, the more bottles you have, the more you’re contributing to an industry that destroys the planet. To ensure you provide your employees with what they need and protect the interests of future generations, consider using filtered water instead. Place a few filters in the staff kitchen and employees can help themselves.

Know Your Waste

If you don’t know what you’re using, you won’t be able to set any goals. At the end of each week, before the recycling collection is made, take a look at what your business is using. How many bags of paper are you throwing away? What about plastic, glass and cardboard? Once you know how your business is doing, you can make plans to reduce your waste. Inform your employees of your findings and challenge them to make the business greener.

Did you know you can recycle your electronics? Did you know that landfills full of electronics are dangerous and full of mercury and toxins? Some recycling companies that claim to recycle electronics actually sell the waste to foreign countries. In fact, there’s a village in China next to a huge electronics waste site where 80% of the children suffer with respiratory problems. If you’re recycling your electronic waste, make sure you know where it’s going. Hold on to electronics for as long as you can, or sell them to second-hand electronics businesses toavoid huge E-waste land sites.

Going green takes commitment, but soon it becomes second nature.

Comments

comments

About the Author

Sanwal - Young Entrepreneur & Daydreamer. Working towards making the HatchByte group among the top online media publication in India.